Each to their own. If I want to ride, I got stock bikes. If I want to drool, admire, examine, dream, envy and be impressed at some mad skills-these bikes will do just fine. Thanks for sharing , Cyril. Very nice!

Nice objects ! Not sure I would give the first and second ones the name of “bike” thought…

Maybe adding some rules like “to be eligible, the bike must be able to ride thru a small gymkana”, or/and “to be eligible, the bike must be able to make a U-turn in a certain space”, or/and “to be eligible, the bike must be able to ride at least a certain distance” would be a good thing…

All bikes entered had to complete a run test to be eligible for a prize. They had to start, pull away under their own power, be ridden for no less than 100 yards with both rider’s feet clearly off the floor, corner, and stop. We have video of all the run tests. Of course it would be nice to make them all run 20 miles but it’s not practical in the parking lot behind the tent in Sturgis and my entire show crew this year consisted of myself, two photographers and two other guys so we were all pretty busy on registration day.

All of us competitors vote which is the fairest form of judging. The winner is clearly the winner. Neil and AMD run an extremely clean and honest show with NO favoritism shown to anyone. The winners are clearly the winners. We are all proud no matter where we place in this event. After all it is THE World Championship of bike building.

btw…I am not a competitor. I am interested in knowing how bikes are evaluated in a “Performance Class”.

The winner’s motor was much smaller than at least 4 other bikes. The AFT bike’s chassis certainly isn’t a performance chassis since it is too long to be any type of cafe bike.

So, if the motor isn’t the winning factor in the “Performance” class AND the chassis isn’t the winning factor in the “Performance” class, what exactly is deciding the winner in the “PERFORMANCE” class?

Every year I get more confused. From the results of this year and last one would assume that only
ultra-skinny unpainted, drilled cafe racer/ boardtrackers have a chance. I,m gonna mail my entry in next year in a manila envelope all I have to do is retrofit that r/c aiplane motor and find the right size rubber bands to mount on my pinwheels.

They are nice, but not really useable, just more show peices. I guess having a usable ridable (more than say 100 miles) real bikes are not allowed in this competition. I prefer my vehicles to be used not just looked at, I can have a 5thousand dollar paintjob and still ride it everyday. No reason to have or build a museum trophy unless your being payed to do so, then I guess you would have a crappy soap opera tv show and familly fights.

It is funny…the common denominator after all these years is that the show bikes just aren’t “go” bikes. It wasn’t that long ago that the Choppers were “too long” or the tires were “too wide”. This show is clearly (and by all rights should remain) an art show.

Mike
I know that you are an honorable man and the bikes you pick at this show are the ones you feel
should win, and I am assured that every other competitor does the same.
I feel guilty because I must be the odd one out.
If I had spent all of my money effort and time building a show bike when I was young very competitive and I entered it in a show where I had to judge my competitors bikes
I would check every one as best as I could , but if there was one that I thought was very close to mine, I wouldnt put it as my winner on my judging sheet I would give put it about 3rd place
and my winner at the top of my list would be one that I knew I could beat.

John, I admire your honesty -hello by the way !….that is a very valid point, and it has to effect results to some extent, but I believe that most builders are still true enthusiests and cant help but vote for the machines that truely stand out. I rembember back in ’07 voting for Stellan and Chicara 1st and 2nd….
I also remember placing one builder well even though he had wronged me in a business deal, a little moral dilemma for sure but at the end of the day the best bike in the class wins. Having said that, as we all know, the results could be quite different, at a different show with a different format…So I think the best thing to do is push yourself and do the best you can, but dont take it too seriously !
Cheers r

Once again roger is correct. Push yourself to build what you like to the best of your ability and don’t be influenced by others. Where would this world be if people didn’t brake the envelope open on something new everyday.

So a bunch of judges don’t like your bike boohoo go out and enjoy the hell out of it and enjoy your work.

Congratulations to the winners, I had the chance to bomb Spearfish Canyon at night, late with no traffic, no baggers, accompanied by AFT,s winning entry driven by Jim carrying a beautiful passenger, and definitely can attest that AFT ‘s bike is a performance machine and then some. We’ll see how it does at Bonneville. To those that need to compare what they drive to the bikes in a builders competition, let me tell you that a credit card can buy you a Lear jet if you are so inclined, or anything in between, but then try making one yourself.

A BLINGED OUT ROLEX TELLS TIME THE SAME AS A 27 DOLLAR G SHOCK…WHICH ONE WINS THE WATCH CONTEST? TO EACH HIS OWN..AWESOME BIKES ALL OF THEM! AND IF YOU THINK ITS EASY, TRY TO COMPETE..I DID(2008)..DIDNT FINISH WELL BUT HAD A GREAT TIME AND MET PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD..COOL SHOW AND PEER JUDGING IS BEST..LESS POLITICAL..NOT PERFECT BUT LESS POLICTICAL

Instead of bitchin’ and whining about how one style resembles another or how tired you are of seeing the same thing, then go right ahead and design, build and fabricate, by hand, that totally unique, one of a kind, awe-inspiring work of pure art that you so desperately feel the industry, as well as yourself deserve. What did you bring to the table this year? What the fck did you contribute? The show was not judged on the basis of trending styles or “the next big thing”, nor does the custom industry need a “creative genius” to set forth a direction. This show is about the art of the design & build. You either get it or you don’t, but don’t complain and whine about it.

Every Builder Has His or Her own style of building, and the design they see in ther eyes while building there dream bike, However if you plan on going to an event with with the full intent of winning the show out of the gate, You are Doing this for the wrong reason to start with.

Being a Custom builder for more than 20 years myself, Won championships, and many shows over the Years, I did not Win shows out of the Gate.

What I Did gain out of these events, Was great relationships with builders across the country and the world over with great stories to tell, See there ideas, and listen to ther problems along the way, as we all have.

This is what these shows are all about, The Joy of the RIDE. AND IF YOU DO WIN, Great, Thats What this industry is really about.

I was very proud to be a guest judge this year, To Neil and there Staff, Great Job.
Sincerely, Robert Gilliland.

I was a participant at this event. I made new friends, had a lot of fun, and learned a lot. It was my first build, and it took a lot longer than I expected. But after spending a few a days with fellow competitors , I learned that even seasoned builders face the same sort of setbacks as I did. I met some great people , and really enjoyed the experience. Thanks Congratulations to everyone!!!!